Syrian refugees shortly before getting into the truck that takes them back home, in May 2024. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'Orient-Le Jour)
The ministerial committee in charge of the return of Syrian refugees finished drafting the plan it will present to the Cabinet "as soon as possible," revealed Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri to the Saudi newspaper al-Sharq al-Awsat on Monday. He confirmed that "the forced expulsion from Lebanon and mass deportation of Syrian displaced persons" is not included in the plan.
The number of Syrian migrants and refugees that have fled to Lebanon since 2011 is estimated at over 1.5 million, with internally displaced persons in Lebanon estimated at 1.2 million at the height of the war between Hezbollah and Israel, between September and November 2024. The latter includes Syrian and Lebanese nationals.
Since 2011, many political figures regularly call for the return of Syrian refugees, stating that the political change in Syria has eliminated the danger that many of them faced in the past. International organizations, however, note the challenges for many families to return to villages destroyed by years of war in a country with a fragile public infrastructure.
According to figures from the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), reported by al-Sharq al-Awsat, nearly 173,000 refugees have already voluntarily returned from Lebanon since the regime change. However, ongoing unrest in Syria, particularly sectarian violence exercised by the new Syrian security forces against the country's Alawite and Druze minorities in recent months, pushed 40,000 Syrian nationals to seek refuge in northern Lebanon.
Aid of $100 per person
According to Mitri, the government "aspires to implement the first stage of its plan before the upcoming school year in September. While it's impossible to provide figures at the moment, we anticipate the return of around 200,000 to 300,000 people."
"A large number of refugees are ready to return home, following a census conducted by the UNHCR, especially since the Syrian presidency is no longer opposed to this return, despite its concerns about the still difficult living conditions in Syrian cities and villages," he added.
Mitri explained that the names of those planning to return will be registered and transportation to Syria will be provided by the Lebanese authorities. The government will provide $100 per person.
Refugees also have the option to set their own date of return and arrange their transportation, but will still be entitled to $100 per person.
General Security plans to exempt Syrian nationals from any fines related to a possible illegal stay in Lebanese territory, on the condition that they commit to not returning illegally to Lebanon.
"The government has received promises of on-site support in Syria from international donors, to help Syrian nationals sustainably establish themselves in their country, to not be tempted to return illegally to Lebanon," he added.
The UNHCR had already announced last April "unprecedented budget cuts" in Lebanon, following the freeze of American financial aid, which represented 40 percent of its overall funding in Lebanon.
UNHCR spokesperson in Lebanon, Lisa Abou Khaled, specified to L’Orient-Le Jour, on April 26, that 40,000 refugees in Lebanon would no longer have access to primary health care (basic care) starting in April 2025, 45,000 would lose access to secondary health care (more specialized) from December 2025, and 42,000 more people would no longer receive shelter kits nor improvements to their living conditions.
The UNHCR will also end all educational aid starting July 2025, a move which will deprive 15,000 children of learning programs, according to the spokesperson. The High Committee had to exclude 347,000 people from the monetary component under the joint UNHCR-WFP (World Food Programme) program starting in April, now supporting only 206,000 until June 2025.
Humanitarian convoy reaches Rmeish, Ain Ibl, Dibil despite obstacles
